Lighting fixture



Patenteci Dec. 22, 1936 UNITED STATES LIGHTEN G FDKTURE Marion A. Summerour and Harry C. Devine, Jr.,- Kansas City, Kane., assignors to Smme'our & Devine, Inc., Kansas City, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Application September 23, 1935, Serial No. 41,673

7 Claims. (Ci. 240-73) This invention relates to lighting fixtures and has for its primary object, the provision of an effective, unique, novel and desirable xture, wherein is employed a plurality of panels, supported by specially formed brackets so that an entirely or partially circumscribing body is presented for the confinement of the electric lamps which form a part of the fixture.

One of the important aims of the invention is to provide a lighting fixture, having as its major elements, a plurality of brackets slotted and designed so as to support a series of panels Vand a number of strips, such panels and strips being formed and disposed with respect to each other in a way that will utilize the light emanating from the electric lamps in a unique and effective manner and so that the fixture is made more attractive.

An even further object of this invention is to provide a lighting fixture of the aforementioned character, wherein is incorporated a number of transparent or translucent panels, spaced apart and associated with opaque strips having a polished surface whereby the rays of light from the lamps of the fixture are refracted and reflected to produce desirable lighting effects.

Minor objects of the invention include specific structural features which willappear during the course of the following specification, referring to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure l is a front elevation of a lighting fixture made in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical, central section through the fixture.

Fig. 3 is a cross section through the same, taken on line III-III of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is anV enlarged, fragmentary, detailed, Sectional view through a portion of the lighting fixture.

Fig. 5 is a similar detailed View, showing the means of retaining a panel in place.

Fig. 6 is another fragmentary, detailed, sectional View through a portion of the lighting fixture, and,

Fig. '7 is a diagrammatical view illustrating the relation between source of light and two of the members of the lighting fixture.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention shown in the drawing, the fixture is of the surface supported type, but it is understood that fixtures of the pendant type may be constructed to embody this invention. In the form illustrated, the fixture comprises a base IO, ornamented to suit conditions of installation, but preferably formed to provide a housing or conduit for electric wires l2 leading to the electric lamps [4. U-shaped brackets IE, l8 and 2% are secured to base Ill and each is provided with a number of slots arranged so as to receive the series of panels 22 which extendV from bracket IE to bracket l8,

and also to receive panels 24 which extend from bracket [8 to bracket 20. Slots 26 formed in bracket it to receive panels 22 are in opposed relation to slots 28 in upper wall 30 of bracket I8.

In order to carry out the design illustrated, bracket l8 has slots 32 formed through upper wall 30 thereof and slots 34 formed through lower wall 36 thereof that are in opposed relation and receive panel 24.' Panel 24 extends laterally to each side of bracket l8 and slot 38 in upper wall 40 of lower bracket 20 receives the lower portion of panel 2d, as shown in Fig. 2. Lower wall 36 abuts the lower ends of panels 22 after they have passed through slots 28 in the upper wall thereof and longitudinal movement in one direction is precluded. Lower wall 42 of bracket 20 likewise supports the weight of panels 24 and precludes longitudinal movement thereof in one direction.

Upper bracket IB need not be formed to present two spaced-apart walls, as is the case with respect to brackets l8 and 2U respectively, and the slots therein which receive panels 22 are in opposed relation and similar in form to slots 28 formed in upper wall 39 of bracket I8. All of these brackets are secured to base IU in predetermined, spaced-apart relation, governed entirely by the size and other structural characteristics of the fixture being made.

The relation between panels 22 and 24, as the case may be, and the several strips of metal as-` scciated therewith is substantially the same in4 all instances. Metal strips 44 are associated with panels 22 and metal strips 46 are associated with panels 24. Excellent results have been obtained by positioning panels 22 with the proximal, longitudinal edges thereof in spaced-apart, opposed relation and then disposing strips 44 in overlapped, spaced-apart relation so that each bridges the space between adjoining panels 22. Strips 44 are received in slots 48 to conform to the cross Sectional contour of the strips and these slots 48 are formed in the walls of brackets [6 and I8.

The relationship between panels 24 and strips lit is the same as just mentioned with respect to panels 22 and strips 44 and the light rays emanating from the source in the form of lamps l4 are reflected and refracted so that the entire fixture appears to be made of expensive glass or similar substance.

Reference to Fig. '7 will suffice in teaching the manner in which the light rays pass from lamp ill along a path of travel designated by the broken line 59 to the inner surface of panel 22. The path of travel then extends along line 52 and thence outwardly from panel 22 along line 54. The laws of refraction and dispersion will, of course, affect the rays of light. A certain part of the light rays will be reflected, both from the point indicated in the diagrammatical view and from the various points along the inner surface of panels 22. These reflected rays of light will travel along line 5d and strike the polished surface 58 of strip 44. This refiecting surface will serve to further break up and reflect the ray of light outwardly or along line 60. Rays of light so reflected from the concave face of strips d4 will pass outwardly between thel proximal spaced-apart edges of adjoining panels, and since different colors are bent by refraction in different degrees and reflection will have a bearing upon the color effect, it becomes obvious that colored lamps Ill create a very desirable effect and enhance the value of a lighting fixture constructed as described herein.

Strips 44 are preferably made of metal or some suitable inexpensive opaque substance and the form of these strips 44 is preferably arcuate in cross section. .Lower wall 42 of bracket 20 may have a number of windows 62 formed therein which are covered by glass or the like 64, and through which pass rays of light from Within the Means is provided for precluding longitudinal movement of panels 22 when the fixture is to be hung so that these panels are hung horizontally. In the illustrated embodiment of this feature of the invention, the means is merely a spring 66, secured as at 68 to one of the brackets, such as [6. In forming strips M so that they will not be displaced after association with the brackets, the same are notched as at 'm so that a slightly inturned portion 12 will preclude longitudinal movement on the part of strip 44.

It becomes obvious from the foregoing that brackets I6, IB and 20, as the case may be, may be formed to present a circumscribing element to support the desired number of panels and strips so that the effect with respect to the handling of light rays will still be present in a pendant type fixture. It also becomes obvious to one skilled in the art that the fixture, when constructed as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, may be hung upon a vertical support, but may prove effective and adaptable for afiixing to a horizontal support such as a ceiling. V

It is understood that lighting fixtures embodying the salient features of this invention might be made to present specific forms other than those shown in the drawing and while the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it is desired to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and vdesired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A lighting fixture comprising a plurality of brackets provided with slots; a series of spacedapart, translucent panels supported by the brackets, extending through certain of said slots; and opaque strips extending through others of said slots, bridging the spaces between and overlapping the adjacent panels of the series, said strips being arcuate in transverse cross section and disposed in spaced relation to the said panels whereby to reflect light rays directed thereagainst by the said panels.

2. A lighting fixture comprising a plurality of brackets provided with slots; a series of spacedapart, translucent panels supported by the brackets, extending through certain of said slots; and opaque strips extending through others of said slots, bridging the spaces between and overlapping the adjacent panels of the series, said panels being planar, said strips being arcuate in transverse cross section and disposed in spaced relation to the said planar panels whereby to have one side thereof illuminated by rays of light directed thereagainst by said panels.

3. A lighting fixture comprising a plurality of brackets provided with slots; a series of panels supported by the brackets, extending through certain of said slots; and strips extending through others of said slots, bridging the spaces between and overlapping the adjacent panels of the series, said strips being arcuate in transverse cross section, opaque and provided with a refiecting surface on the concave side thereof, said strips being in spaced relation to the said panels, said panels being of translucent substance Whereby to diffuse light rays passing therethrough and reflect light rays onto the refiecting surface of said strips.

4. A lighting fixture comprising a base; plurality of brackets on the base provided with slots; a series of panels supported by the brackets, extending through certain of said slots; strips extending through others of said slots, bridging the spaces between and overlapping the adjacent panels of the series in spaced relation thereto; and lamps carried by the base, said base, series of panels and strips forming a circumscribing body for the lamps, said panels being translucent, said strips being opaque and pro-` through others of said slots bridging the spaces between and overlapping the adjacent panels of the series; and means carried by one of the brackets for yieldably precluding longitudinal movement of the panels in either direction through said slots said slots being large enough and said means for precluding longitudinal movement being yieldable enough to permit expansion and contraction of the panels.

6. In a lighting fixture of the character described, a double-wall intermediate bracket having slots formed in the walls thereof; a bracket on each side of said intermediate bracket having slots formed therein in opposed relation to the slots in the walls of the intermediate bracket; and panels extending between said brackets and through certain of the slots in the brackets, some of the slots in the walls of the intermediate bracket being in opposed relation whereby to allow the panels to extend laterally to each 'side of the bracket.

7. In a lighting fixture of the character described, a double-wall intermediate bracket having slots formed in the walls thereof; a bracket on each side of said intermediate bracket having slots formed therein; and panels extending' MARION A. SUMM'EROUR. HARRY C. DEVINE, JR. 

